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Dying Kentucky Man Denied Lung Transplant

Kentucky man Bobby Webb was turned away by doctors who were unwilling to give him a lung transplant.

Webb is currently battling cystic fibrosis, a disease that forces mucus to buildup and destroy his lungs. He survives on a combination of medications and is hooked up to oxygen 24 hours a day. Although he received a lung transplant in 2011, those are now failing.

“I don’t know if anybody ever comes to terms with dying,” Webb said. “I think about it sometimes…I just try to put it in the back of my head…You don’t want to live days like that.”

In 2014, Webb also received a kidney transplant. There were no complications. In 2015, however, Webb started to get sick again and doctors told him he would need another lung transplant. Doctors gave him six months to one year to live.

Webb was told he would be eligible for the transplant if he could improve his numbers and complete a three-minute walk, which he did. Although his doctors agreed to do the transplant, it had to be approved by the Jewish Hospital’s Executive Committee.

When it was determined that Webb was high risk, his request for the transplant was denied. Kentucky One Health officials said that they couldn’t comment directly on the case, but did release a statement.

“When a patient is not a candidate for transplant at Jewish Hospital, our team works closely with the patient to help identify potential alternative transplant venues,” the statement read.

Webb said that WHAS will meet again on March 4 to reevaluate his case. He explained that he’s thankful the hospital is working with him and fighting to continue his transplant possibilities.